The
goals of Bingocize™ are to provide service-learning experiences for exercise
science students and to create low-cost exercise programs for older adults. Led
by students, Bingocize™ is a combination exercise and bingo game that can be
implemented at older adult facilities such as assisted living, nursing homes,
and senior community centers. Exercises
are alternated with rolls of bingo until someone wins the game and a prize.
Functional fitness is assessed at the beginning and end of each semester. The
course outcomes for students are evaluated using reflections and group
projects. The program is funded by both internal and external grants.

Objectives:

1)
To provide opportunities for exercise students to
apply exercise prescription information for older adults, while gaining a
better understanding of the barriers older adults face each day.

2) To provide a
fun and effective way for older adults to participate in exercise so they can
improve their functional fitness and other psychosocial variables.

3) To implement
Bingocize™ at other
local facilities, while sustaining the programat the six existing
facilities in Bowling Green, Kentucky and two facilities in Owensboro,
Kentucky.

4) To help
other schools and facilities across the country to replicate the program.

Outcomes:

1) Recruit at
least 15% of the attendees from each older adult facility to participate in the
project (determine average daily attendance at facility and monitor attendance
at each session)

3) Achieve a
75% adherence rate for participants who begin each Bingocize™ project (monitor attendance at each session)

4) 75% of the students enrolled in EXS 455: Exercise
and Aging will score 85% or better for the course (course rubrics will be used
to assess the students)

Challenges/Problems Encountered:The first
challenge was making connections with the community. Finding and contacting
appropriate facilities was difficult, but it was made easier by communicating
with campus partners who were interested in the area of aging and
service-learning (i.e. Center for Gerontology and the ALIVE Center for
Community Engagement). A second challenge was ensuring the students’ schedules
would allow them to participate. To address this barrier, Bingocize was scheduled once per week during
class time. We hope to add additional facilities in the future so students
enrolled in other courses (practicum/internship) will be given the opportunity
to create their own programs.

Evaluation Approach:Because this
is a service-learning program, it is important to evaluate both the students
and the community participants. The student learning outcomes were derived from
the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommended knowledge, skills, and
abilities. The older adult participants’ outcomes were derived from the
American College of Sports Medicine’s Guidelines for Exercise and Older Adults
(2010). The students measure the participants’ fitness; however, Dr. Crandall
is responsible for the overall assessment of the project.

Potential for Replication:Replicating the
program is not difficult. First, there is minimal equipment needed to start the
program. Many older adult facilities already have a bingo game and the required
exercise equipment is inexpensive. Second, stakeholders have much to gain from
participating. The students are in need of experience, the older adults are
interested in socializing and improving their health, the university likes
community partnerships, and, finally, the community sites appreciate help
implementing new and innovative programs.